Random Building

1934 – ANZAC War Memorial, Sydney, Australia

Architect: C. Bruce Dellit

Designed by C. Bruce Dellit, with the exterior adorned with monumental reliefs and sculptures by Rayner Hoff. The result of an architectural competition – third prize was awarded to Peter Kaad, and second prize to John D. Moore.

Constructed of concrete with exterior cladding of pink granite, and consists of a massed square superstructure with typically Art Deco setbacks and buttresses. It is positioned atop a cruciform pedestal within which are located administrative offices and a small museum. The interior is largely faced in white marble, and features a domed ceiling adorned with 120,000 gold stars – one for each of New South Wales’ military volunteers during World War I.

The main focus of the interior is Rayner Hoff’s monumental bronze sculpture of a deceased youth, representing a soldier, held aloft on his shield by a caryatid – three female figures, representing his mother, sister and wife. The building’s exterior is adorned with several bronze friezes, carved granite relief panels and twenty monumental stone figural sculptures symbolising military personnel, also by Hoff.